As Ambassador, Huntsman Promises to Press American Ideals in China

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. promised a Senate panel Thursday that he would be “a hard-headed realist” if confirmed as the next ambassador to China, pushing for more trade equality, military transparency and a pact to combat climate change.

But he also said he would not shy away from promoting religious freedoms and greater human rights with the leaders of this emerging superpower.

“We have reached a point in history where a positive contribution from China can substantially improve our chances of addressing the most pressing problems,” he said at his confirmation hearing before a subset of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Huntsman headlined a hearing that included four other ambassador-designees. As expected, senators asked him some substantive policy questions but didn’t express any doubt about his qualifications.